Inspectors on the scene of Lakeview porch collapse

September 12, 2010

Chicago building inspectors look over the scene of a porch collapse at 3736 N. Ashland Ave. this morning. The collapse occurred at about 1:30 a.m. today and injured four people. (Nancy Stone/ Chicago Tribune)

City building inspectors were at a Lakeview building looking over the scene where a porch collapsed early this morning injuring four people, officials said.

The accident happened at about 1:20 a.m., when about eight people were standing on a rear porch deck in the 3700 block of North Ashland Avenue when it separated from the building and collapsed, said Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

Investigators were surveying the scene this morning, which was marked off with blue and yellow tape from the backyard up to the third story wooden porch. Beer bottles and cans were still sitting on a second story railing.

An inspector, who declined to give his name, said the department has never received any complaints about the building before.

Ed Frankowski and Amy Freelund, who share an alley with the Ashland building, were coming home around midnight when they noticed a large crowd on the back deck.

"I thought there were too many people out there," Frankowski, 25, said of what looked to be about a dozen people gathered on a small porch.

While they didn't witness the collapse, they did hear ambulance sirens racing to the scene less than 90 minutes later.

"Thankfully, it wasn't worse," said Freelund, 26.

Four people, all adults, were transported to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center,Langford said. One was taken in serious-to-critical condition while three others were hospitalized in fair-to-serious condition, Langford said. Four additional people refused medical attention, he said.

The building was a two-and-half story structure. There was also a roof deck that was compromised as well, officials said.